Achi news desk-
“We never fail when we try to do our duty, we always fail when we neglect to do it.”–Robert Baden-Powell
Administration which covers different dimensions like governance, management, control, supervision etc. is not meant for people who lack discipline, competence and sense of duty. Perfectionists are usually reluctant to delegate responsibilities to others for fear of failure, so they usually end up doing all the work themselves. Handling the affairs of any organization is not an easy task, what to talk about the complex machinery of a country’s government, it is definitely not the work of one person. Unless the right person is posted for the right job, not every department can be expected to function smoothly. The example can be taken of a huge plant that produces finished products. One loose nut in the machinery can disrupt the entire process, which in turn can cause a breakdown, if not fixed in time.
The field of public service is very complex. Those who seek to serve the people are given multiple responsibilities to protect the state and its interests, to enforce rules and regulations, to perform in a manner that allows the machinery of the state to function efficiently. Take the home for example. If affairs are not properly organized and family members do not fulfill their duties, there is sure to be chaos, while the residents could easily find themselves suffering from mental and physical ailments apart from stress. financial. When this situation is magnified ten times at the government level, imagine the complications that accompany running a state, what to speak of the entire country. The health and wealth of a nation is directly proportional to the way this huge governing mechanism works. A cleaner environment would automatically lead to pleasant conditions for a better life for everyone.
One would hope that after all the necessary requirements have been met, it would be a simple matter to get a license for publication processed but then a clerk takes it down because of objection that is not a description or somewhat irrelevant. Then one happens to notice another case where a significant document is absent but the license is issued within minutes. Anyone who has had some experience with government departments would know exactly why and how this can happen. Of course, one was trying to be careful and take care of all the formalities to ensure there would be no complications in the future, while another was more interested in short-term benefits. The former was not ready to oblige but perhaps the applicant was unaware of the established modus operandi. When such things happen, there would definitely be frustration and of course delay which could force the need to go to a higher authority.
The multitude of public service departments that have fumbled over time to take care of all the fine grit that is a natural result of modern developments, while facilitating people in many ways, also tends to cause hardship. Although there are internal systems of checks and balances, where registered complaints are dealt with by those in charge, yet many are turned back on one basis or another, much to the dismay of the complainant. The good will of the department could be hurt if its employees are found to be indulging in illegal gratification or abuse of power, so few are taken to task on even genuine concerns. Therefore, in order to redress grievances, a person can either seek legal remedies or refer a case to one of many ombudsmen appointed specifically for this purpose in line with providing cheap and speedy access to justice to the public.
On 19 October 2022, during a conference in Baku, Mr Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi, the Federal Ombudsman of Pakistan, explained that the existence of maladministration and poor governance in the public sector creates an environment of favouritism, discrimination, corruption and exploitation where human rights come first. wounded. In other words, he was trying to suggest that altruism sans empathy and integrity is bound to wreck havoc in any system. This is the reason why Pakistan also introduced, like some other countries, the position of Ombudsman which can be found at federal and provincial level.
On May 2, 2024, the Office of the Ombudsman (Mohtasib) Punjab held a press conference highlighting its performance during 2023, and the report was formally submitted to the Governor of Punjab. Although all departments would love to praise their performances, but the fact is that if they were as efficient as they would like to portray then the office of the Punjab Ombudsman would not be full of thousands of complaints. Addressing complaints and finding solutions is more difficult than solving problems in the first place. In the discharge of their duties, the Office of the Punjab Ombudsman and its efficient staff have been extremely diligent in taking into consideration various applications calling for immediate adjudication and achieving an astonishing figure of almost 100 percent disposal.
The most troublesome aspect of the Ombudsman’s office is the many departments it faces. Having to deal with one is such a pain but negotiating settlements with many is another story. Furthermore, acting competently to recover government property, ensuring a balance between the state and the people in itself requires immense wisdom and effective negotiations which the 2023 report sheds light on. Completing the construction of five regional offices in different areas, establishing a ‘Research and Development’ wing to carry out educational studies to further improve working and to match technological developments, introducing e-complaints, automation, and managing archives in some stages in the field. his cap. Very good!
The Office of the Punjab Ombudsman has set a great example of performance of duties and achievement of commendable success indicators. It has proven that if all government departments decide to fulfill their assigned obligations, there is no reason why Pakistan cannot rub shoulders with the most advanced nations of the world.
